Flume-cleaning apparatus.



F. G. STRITZEL.

PLUME CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1913.

1,1 10,408, Patented Sept. 15, 1914 THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D c.

nrrap s'ra'rns PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH GUSTAV STRITZEL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

rnuivrn-onnanrno APPARATU$.

inioaos.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 29, 1913. Serial No. 764,394.

invention is to provide a flume of the character mentioned having associated means designed to thoroughly cleanse the water of all floating and settling matter of a foreign nature, as the water passes to the usual head gate of the fiume.

Another important feature of the invention may be said to reside in the provision of novel and eilicient means for preventing the customary ice jambs in water flumes during certain seasons of the year.

in the preferred embodiment of my invention, the last mentioned means is adapted to be moved out of operative position in the flume during the milder seasons of the year when it is not necessary to provide against ice jambs.

It has heretofore been attempted, in the art, to cleanse the water in flumes in various ways, but none of the devices with which I am familiar have proven thoroughly satisfactory, or gone into extensive use, among the objections thereto being the exceedingly complicated and expensive character of the constructions which render them impracticable to a large extent. constructions, most of which are run by water power, need a skilled operator or mechanic, in the operation thereof, parts of the construction often times ettin out of.

order, to such an extent as to destroy the usefulness, etc., whereas my present invention is of such a character that it is comparatively simple, inexpensive, durable and eifi cient, and it is readily operable by the ordinary workman, with the incident result that the structure embodies a large saving in time, labor, and convenience in operation.

In the present embodiment of my invention, I arrange the various cleaning elements in close succession in the flume adjacent the head gate thereof, the said elements being Again, such prior sufiiciently separated, however, one from the other, wherebv the operation of one will not interfere with or impede the operation of the others, but cooperates therewith to thoroughly relieve the water of foreign materials, including both light and heavy, such as leaves, sand, etc.

In carrying out the principles of my in vention I preferably provide the fiume with an enlarged settling portion 'wher'eby the water 7 in its" passage through the flume is slightly impeded owmg to the increased area at this point, thereby allowingthe heavier foreign particles to sink into the settling tank, and in connection with the settling tank, I conveniently provide novel and improved means for exhausting the collected foreign matter at will.

The invention still further includes novel means adjacent one edge of the settling tank for guiding the heavier foreign matter in a downward direction or towardthe tank, and suitable screening means adjacent the opposite edge of'the tank, whereby to intercept any lighter floating particles which pass beyond the tank, and whereby to discharge said lighter particles, such as. leaves, onto support outside of the flume.

Various other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement the several parts will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which,

for a clearunderstanding of the invention, should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory v embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section; Figs. 3, 4-, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of parts removed.

lVith more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like ref rence numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, the flume preferably takes the form of'a runway in which the'watertravels in the direction of the arrows, indicated in Fig. 1. The runway preferably comprises a bottom part 1 and side walls 2. At suitable intervals throughout the length of the fiume I provide means for, engaging ice and pre venting the usual ice jambs 1n a device of this character. \Vhile, asstated, a plurality of such means are provided, at suitable intervals apart, but one of such means is shown Patented Sept. 15,- 1914.

for the purpose of illustration, and a description of one will suthce for the others. The means mentioned, for convenience termed ice combs, or stoppers, are in'the form of a plurality of separated fingers 3, projecting from a transversely extending bar or rod 1 pivotally mounted at 5 in any desired manner to the sides of the runway. The fingers 3 are preferably stout or rigid prongs sufficiently long to penetrate the ice at the breaking up time in the spring of the year. able means is provided for so supporting the fingers that they project into the water at an angle say of about 15 degrees, and with the free ends of the fingers slightly lifted, above the bottom of the runway. The supporting means in this embodiment of my invention takes the form of an elongated bar 6 projecting transversely across the runway, and loosely passingthrough apertures in the side walls 2 of the runway. It has a head 7 at one end whereby it may be engaged for removal at will and may have at its opposite end a releasable securing pin 8 passing through an aperture in the end of the bar. As stated, the bar when supported in the apertures on the side walls of the flume, will position the fingers 3 at an incline and in the path of the water, thereby serving as ice combs or stoppers preventing loose ice from coming together in sufficient quantities to cause a ja-mb.

When the ice season is over, it is desirable to move the fingers 8 out of the path of the flowing material in the conduit, and I may take advantage of the said bar 6 for this purpose. XVith this in view, the opposite sides of the runway have at the top a groove 9 adapted for the reception of thebar 6 when the latter is removed from the recesses intermediate the top and bottom of the sides. The supporting bar 1 having been swung about its pivotal connection, and the bar 6 having been positioned in the groove 9, at the top edges of the runway, the fingers 3 are permitted to fall into contact with the bar 6 where they are held out of operative position, until the time of the year when they are again needed. A suitable cord, chain, or the like of any desired construc tion, (not shown) may be employed for swinging the ice combs or stops about their pivotal connection, formed by the supporting bar, and in this same connection, the cord, chain or the like, by engaging a suitable retaining member on the flume, may serve to hold the fingers 3 in adjusted position, and this without the necessity of bringing into operation the supporting bar 6.

The flume is preferably enlarged laterally so as to provide a settling tank 10, the tank being of a size to impede the progress of the water through the flume at this point, to the end that the heavier impurities are allowed to settle in the tank. Preferably, the side Suitwalls 10 of the settling tank incline from their point of connection with the bottom 1 of the conduit, the said inclined sides 10 being provided with radial ribs 36 tending to direct the material toward the opening in an elongated transversely extending receptacle 11 adapted for the reception of a suitable sand tra 12.

Arranged in advance of the settling 'tank 10 are a series of vertically extending loosely supported swinging prongs 13 preferably of wire. The prongs are arranged in a plurality of series, each series projecting downwardly from a transversely extending bar 1 1 bridging the space between the sides 2 of the flume, and resting in receiving grooves 15 in said sides. The wires of each succeeding series are, as illustrated, arranged in staggered relation, and, the action of these wires, which extend substantially from side to side of the runway in the path of the material with the lower end thereof slightly spaced from the bottom of the runway, is to create a suction down ward and forward, thereby serving to deflect and lead the heavier flowing material, like slime, toward the bottom of the flume, so that the same will readily settle inthe tank 10, to be received finally in the sand trap 12, together with the heavy rolling matter, such as sand, rocks, etc. From reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the wires 13 are shown in position, as acted upon by the water, whereas in Fig. 2, the wires are shown in substantially a vertical position or at a time when they are not acted upon by the flowing material.

The sand trap proper, which has been given the numeral 12, is an elongated boxlike receptacle conveniently of sheet or cast iron, the sides of which incline inwardly adjacent the top and then outwardly to provide flanges 12 adapted to rest upon the inclined sides 10 of the settling tank. The flanges 12 terminate at a point below the top of the inclined sides 10", which is likewise below the bottom 1 of the flume. A suitable cover or closure 13 is provided to form a top wall for the sand trap 12, the closure being adapted to fit between the inclined flanges 12 of the trap and being pivotally connected at one side in any desired manner to one of the side flanges 12 The pivotal connection is indicated at 13", and it will be observed that this connection is of such a character that it forms a space 13 between the closure 13 and the connected flange 12 to the end that when the top 13 is slightly open, a return passage way 13 is i lo provided to allow settling of any sand which door, or other closure, that shown for the purpose of illustration taking the formof a swinging door 15 pivoted at 15 tothe wall of said open end, and adapted to swingas by a handle 15 into and out ofposition-to close the opening 14*. In order to make this closure a water tight one, a suitable packing, as a layer of felt, may be provided, on the inner surface of the door. The top 13 is preferably moved about its pivotal connection 13 through the medium of suitable chains 16, connectedatone end as by rings 17, to the top 13 and at the opposite end to a suitable pulley 18 mounted ona shaft 19 having a suitable hearing at opposite ends in the sidewalls 2 of the flume. The said shaft 19 is mounted for rotary movement and to this end I provide a handle 20 connected at one end to the shaft 19, and in order to hold said shaft together with the chains and the top 13 in adjusted posi tions, a suitable cog wheel 21 is arranged on the shaft and a spring held lookingv dog- 22 mounted. adjacent the side wall of the flume, serves to engage the cog wheel and hold the same in position. The top 13 is also provided with an opening 23 adjacent the forward end thereof. Inthe normal position of the top 13 in order to receive the sand and the other heavier particles, the free edge assumes a position whereby the same is open or slightly above the height, of the bottom of the flame. In this way, the

sand and other heavier particles drop into the open receptacle or sand trap 12. Now as it becomes desirable to cleanse the receptacle 12, the top 13*- assumes a closed posi tion, and the closure 15 is moved to open position with the result that the water passing into the opening 23 at the forward end of the top will force the dirt out through the opening 14? at the opposite end of the receptacle. In this way, the sand trap will be thoroughly cleansed.

Having run through the tank, the water again enters the reduced area of the flume, and at this point, I provide a screening member. The screen proper takes the form of a suitable frame 23 or border into which the screen is laid, a screen netting of galvanized wire 24 having proven highly satisfactory for this purpose. The screen material may be secured to its border in the following manner: A reinforcing bar 23 projects over the screen at each side of the border, and U-shaped clips 23 overlie said bars. The arms of the clips are threaded and pass through suitable apertures in the border and are secured in place by nuts 23. In this way the bars and the screen are firmly sup ported in position. The screen is suitablyorder to move the same into and out of operative position in the fiume, the pivoted end of the border 23 is provided with a suitable gear wheel 27 in engagement with a drive pinion 28 mounted on a stub shaft 29 secured to the side of the fiume, the pinion 29 being adapted to be rotated by a handle 30. A suitable support is provided for the screen when the latter is moved out of the path of the flowing materal in the fiume, the said support comprising a substantially U-shaped abutment bar 31, the opposite arms thereof in the form of tubular members 32 being adapted to interengage or telescope with suitable tubes 33 supported from the top edges of the flumes, as by brackets 34 and 34*. The tubes we tend in a direction forwardlyat an incline whereby to position the transversely extending rest bar 31 slightly to the rear of the pivotal connection 25 for the screen, to the end that as the screen is moved about its pivotal point upwardly, the same, after pass ing its center, will fall by gravity into contact with the rest bar. In order to protect the parts against injury, the rest 31-is yieldable, through the medium of a spring 35 interposed between the tubular members 32 and 33, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The flume to the'rear of the screen may be covered, as shown at 36, which said covered portion forms a receiving receptacle for the leaves and other lighter foreign matter which may come into engagement with the screen netting 24. In this connection, the screen netting forms, with the surrounding side border, a shovel like construction whereby in the swinging movement thereof, about its pivot, the material is lifted and deposited onto the platform formed by the cover 36 of the fiume. i

7 From the description, it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be ob-- contact with the plurality of closely associated wire fingers 13, which latter tendto force any foreign matter toward the bottom of the iiume, and create a slight suction at this point, whereby the foreign -matter readily settles into the tank 10. The top of the sand trap being open to a point in substantial alinement with the bottom of the flume, the sand and other foreign particles find a passage through the open top of the receptacle 12 into said receptacle from whence the same may be discharged through the outlet 14;. When the top is closed, the water finds a passage through the opening 23, thereby forcing the material through the outlet 14 the closure 15 having been moved to open position. Such lighter foreign material as passes beyond the settling tank and does not return into the receptacle 12 through the hinge opening 13 gradually accumulates onto the shovel-like screen by which it is carried into a depositing position by rotating the handle 30, and bringing said screen into contact with the abutment 31.

Various minor changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein described, and set forth in the acpivotally supported trash collecting and removing screen arranged normally within the iiume at a forwardly inclining angle, the lower forward edge of the screen being adjacent the bottom of the flume, manually operable means for swinging the screen upwardly thereby carrying the collected material out of the fiume, a settling chamber in the bottom of the flume in advance of the screen, said settling chamber being constructed and arranged to collect and prevent the accumulation of sand and the like adjacent the lower edge of the screen whereby the screen I may be readily elevated and meansarranged in advance of the screen for intercepting large bodies and preventing the same from accumulating on the screen, substantially as described. 7

3. In a fiume and in combination, a swinging screen, pivotally supported at its upper end above the flume and having its body part located within the flume at an angle, neans for swinging the screen upwardly, a floor in the rearof the screen, and a stop arranged rearwardly of the pivotal point of the screen whereby when the screen engages the stop,the material collected on the screen will be deposited on the floor, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a flume, and in combination, a pivotally supported screen extending into and across the flume at a forward incline, means for swinging the screen forwardly on its pivot, a yielding stop arranged rearwardly of the screen, and in the path of the screen as it swings on its pivot whereby the material lodged on the face of the screen will be dislodged'therefrom, and a collecting surface arranged below the stop.

5. In a flume, and in combination, a. swinging screen pivotally supported at its upper edge above the flume and having its body part projecting into and across the Hume at a forward incline, a stop arranged above the fiume and in the rear of the pivotal connection for the screen, said stop comprising a cross bar and yielding means for maintaining the cross bar in normal po sition and a surface below the stop for collecting material dislodged from the screen upon its contact with the stop.

6. In a fiume and in combination, a swinging screen, pivotally supported at its upper end above the flume and having its body part located within the fiume at an angle, gearing for swinging the screen upwardly, a floor in the rear of the screen, and a stop arranged rearwardly of the pivotal point of the screen whereby when the screen engages the stop the material collected on the screen will be deposited on the floor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRIEDRICH GUSTAV STRITZEL. lVitnesses JOHN H. Pnrrz, HELEN N. RAMSEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

